Investigating personality and communication strategies used by ESL learners

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to look into learner differences in terms of extraversion that affect oral discussions and the communication strategies the individuals use in order to converse. Extroverts were the chosen focus and their use of the oral communication strategies were analyzed in order to reach the research objectives. Participants of the study were 79 undergraduates taking an engineering course at Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). The participants were in their first year of studies and are from 20 to 24 years of age. The learners were low proficiency students based on their English Placement Test (EPT) conducted by the institution. The study adopted a mixed method design in order to answer the research questions. Several instruments were used which included two questionnaires; the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire- Revised (EPQ-R) and the Oral Communication Strategy Inventory (OCSI), to gauge data for the quantitative analysis and a recorded group discussion to further support the quantitative data contribute to the findings and discussion. The study found that there is a significant correlation between extraversion and oral communication strategies. In depth analysis found that the while both personalities used most of the oral communication strategies, extroverts applied them more frequently than introverts. The present study also sought out to identify the oral communication strategies used by extroverts in an oral discussion and concluded that out of eight factors, extroverts employed most of the strategies listed under all eight factors of coping with speaking problems.